According to the Australian Dictionary of Biography, the suburb was named after Robert Torrens senior, who was chairman of the South Australian Colonisation Commission, which was responsible for setting up and running the colony in its early years.[3]
New Thebarton Post Office opened on 1 November 1879 and was renamed Torrensville in 1909.[4] Torrensville was part of the then largely rural District of West Torrens until 1883, when the residents of the more urban suburbs of Thebarton, Mile End and Torrensville successfully petitioned to become the Corporation of the Town of Thebarton.[5] In 1997 the Town of Thebarton re-amalgamated with the City of West Torrens.[6]
The Star Theatre, at 107 Henley Beach Road,[7] was one of the earliest picture theatres in Dan Clifford's cinema chain,[8] opening in March 1916. It was renamed the Plaza Theatre in 1937,[7] but still operated under Clifford's Star banner,[9] and continued to operate as a cinema until at least 1957.[7] As of 2022[update] it is operating as the Mile End Office Furniture store.[10]
Demographics
According to the 2016 Australian census, the most common ancestries for Torrensville residents were English (18.8%), Australian (15.9%), Greek (11.8%) and Italian (9.7%) - although 62.4% of respondents were born in Australia.[11] The significant Greek Australian and Italian Australians populations being a result of mass migration in the middle of the 20th century.[citation needed] The 2021 Australian Census identified that 14.8% of residents in Torrensville were of Greek ancestry compared to South Australia 2.7% and Australia 1.7% [12]
Australian Bureau of Statistics data from May 2021 identified Adelaide's western suburbs as having the lowest unemployment in South Australia.[13]
Both the State and Federal MPs, representing the electoral districts that include Torrensville, are notable Greek Australians: Tom Koutsantonis and Steve Georganas of the Australian Labor Party. Their success in winning office could potentially be attributed to the population of Greek Australians in their electoral districts including Torrensville and neighbouring suburbs of Thebarton and Mile End.[citation needed]
Heritage listings and places of interest
Brickworks
The Brickworks Marketplace, a shopping centre, is on the site of the former brickworks of J. Hallett and Son.[14][15] It occupies a large block on the corner of South Road and Ashwin Parade, with the Torrens River (Karrawirri Parri) at its northern boundary.[16]
The old brickworks site was converted into a lively market in the late 20th century, with a leisure complex including rides for children, and a multitude of stalls selling goods from fruit and vegetables, to crafted items, jewellery and clothing.[18] This was demoolished and a shopping centre built in its place; Brickworks Marketplace, whose largest tenant is Woolworths (Australia), opened on 25 June 2015.[21][17]
Gate and Ticket Office to Thebarton Oval in Torrensville.
Ashley Street: Gate and Ticket Office, Thebarton Oval was heritage-listed in 1993.[27]
The Hotel Royal in Torrensville was built in 1879 and is heritage listed. The West Torrens Council has controversially approved a $4 million dollar upgrade to the hotel in 2022 that has raised concerns from the Art Deco and Modernism, Adelaide Chapter. The concerns are based on the hotel losing its Art Deco elements and characteristics.[28]
Thebarton Theatre exterior
Thebarton Theatre, a historic and popular entertainment venue, at 112 Henley Beach Road, heritage-listed in 1982.[29]
World Series Cricket icon David Hookes grew up on Clifford Street Torrensville and played cricket in Torrensville.[30] There is a monument to him on the corner of South Road and Ashwin Parade, Torrensville.[31]
92 South Road: World War Two Civil Defence Sub-Control Station[33]
Acclaimed restaurants Parwana Afgan Kitchen which has attracted celebrities such as Nigella Lawson[34] and the British Raj Restaurant which has been the Indian restaurant of choice for the visiting Indian Cricket team for many years [35] are both in Torrensville. The Indian Cricket teams most recent visit in November 2022 attracted a sea of fans at the restaurant, all gathered outside to catch a glimpse of the cricketers and in particular cricket superstar Virat Kohli.[36] Virat Kohli has scored more runs as a touring player at Adelaide Oval than any other cricketer in history.[37]
The New Indian Express printed in its newspaper that the British Raj in Torrensville is famous in this part of the word for its Indian cuisine.[38]
David Hookes monument in Torrensville near Thebarton Oval
^City of Adelaide; Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs (April 1998). "Early bricks and brickwork in South Australia". Heritage Conservation Practice Notes. Technical Note. ISSN1035-5138. September 2008: Published online with revised contact details: Department for Environment and Heritage 2008
^Villani, Celeste (23 January 2022). "1879 art deco hotel to get $4m makeover". The Advertiser.
^"Thebarton Theatre". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
^Shiel, Alan (1993). Hookesy. Sydney: ABC Books. p. 9.
^"David Hookes". Monument Australia. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
^"Former Torrensville Uniting Church". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
